Fluid Master - Patio Querido, Santa Marta
Fluid Master - Patio Querido, Santa Marta
Papi Samson - Martinique
Papi Samson - Martinique
Mamie Cécéa - Martinique
Mamie Cécéa - Martinique
Above to the left, my grandfather, Papi Samson. To the right, My friend's grandmother, Mamie Cécéa (thank you Jessy for allowing me to post her picture). Both in their eighties.

There is something fascinating about elderly people and old trees: the amount of things they have witnessed. You can only imagine how many things they went through, how different was life when they were young, how many people they’ve known, etc. Each wrinkles has its own story.

Being originally from the Caribbean, I look at elderly Caribbean people with a different eye. It’s like they could all be a member of my family. They really have something in common. Whether it’s a physical resemblance, a tone of voice, their wisdom, an attitude, a family recipe, there’s something.

Sometimes with family members, It’s easy to take them for granted as they’ve always been there. They’ve been there for our parents. They’ve been there for us. We are growing up without realizing they are aging (or in my case realizing it late). Still you will meet many of them in their seventies, eighties doing their ‘ting’. Groceries, cooking, cleaning house, gardening, watching grand kids, spreading love and advice, sharing stories from wayyy back…

If you’re lucky enough to have them around, just enjoy.
Surrounded - Toronto
Surrounded - Toronto
Relentless Flow - Taganga
Relentless Flow - Taganga
Childhood is one of these periods of life that hasn’t changed much over time…or at least I haven’t witnessed it changed, which is amazing! A kid on a swing 32 years ago or today has the same pure smile and joy.
It fascinates me how our relation with time and repetition can be extremely different from when we’re grown. As kid we seem to have the power to make ourselves happy doing one thing for hours…whether it’s a game we play, a song we listen to or a cartoon we watch for the thousand time, it seems we have the same pleasure doing it over and over again. Not sure about the parents.

Adulthood makes carelessness fade away or disappear and it seems like it has to. Yes, being an adult is quite the opposite. That said, consuming it always feels good…
Rocking carelessness - Barcelona
Rocking carelessness - Barcelona
Outdoors Captivity - Santa Marta
Outdoors Captivity - Santa Marta
This was taken during a photography contest in Santa Marta, Colombia. We were given themes to photograph throughout the day, wandering in the historical center. This one's theme was Drama. The man on the picture is homeless. 
Finding yourself sleeping in the streets illustrates one of the life's drama, so I (and others) thought about capturing it. Out of respect for this man, I decided not let him notice me. I could have asked him, but decided not to. Instead I hid behind a bench and took the shot.
Art has the capacity to turn a sad event into a beautiful creation. Sometimes it feels right, sometimes it doesn't. In all case we should be mindful of the approach.
Gracias señor y suerte.
Walls Have Ears - Cartagena
Walls Have Ears - Cartagena
Day at Work - Bohemia Beach, Guachaca
Day at Work - Bohemia Beach, Guachaca
Golden Blue - Los Naranjos
Golden Blue - Los Naranjos
From Head to Toes - Santa Marta
From Head to Toes - Santa Marta
Just a Touch - Cali
Just a Touch - Cali
Aspiring Applicant - Ormoy
Aspiring Applicant - Ormoy
Candideness - Niagara Falls
Candideness - Niagara Falls
Kallípugos - Toronto
Kallípugos - Toronto
Limin' - Cali
Limin' - Cali
Les Feux de l'Amour - Alumbrado, Cali
Les Feux de l'Amour - Alumbrado, Cali
Above on the center and to the right are shots taken during the Day of the Little Candles (el Dia de la Velitas in spanish) in Cali. Probably my favorite traditional Colombian celebration, taking place in December.
Like many Colombian celebration, it has roots in Christianity, and this one honours the Virgin Mary and her immaculate conception.
Here's what I like about this special day: it brings people together. While Christmas kinda does the same thing, it remains more private. During el Dia de la Velitas, family, friends, neighbours sit outside, often in front of their houses and hang out. The magic comes from the candles they light all over, which makes a simple walk at night time, a pretty amazing experience. 

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